What We Learned From This Weekend in Football 11/19/2011
1) This Year, the Entire BCS Argument is Moot
Name a team outside of the SEC that can beat Alabama, LSU, or Arkansas…I’m waiting…
2) We Sort Of Forgot About Miami
University of Miami president Donna Shalala being presented a check by Nevin Shapiro.
I think we all know why the scandal that gripped Hurricane football dropped off our collective radars. But now,for some reason, the University of Miami has decided to at least give the appearance of trying to do the right thing.
Despite qualifying with Saturday’s win over South Florida, Miami has made the decision to remove themselves from bowl consideration this season in response to the ongoing NCAA inquiry into the Nevin Shapiro allegations. The school has informed both the NCAA and the ACC of its decision.
“We understand and share the disappointment that our student-athletes, coaches, staff, supporters and fans are feeling but after lengthy discussions among University leaders, athletic administrators and outside counsel, it is a necessary step for our University. The University of Miami has not self-imposed any other penalties. ”
Athletic Director Shawin Eichorst and head coach Al Golden addressed the decision briefly in a teleconference on Sunday afternoon. Eichorst informed Golden of the school’s decision early Sunday afternoon, and further meetings with the coaches and players followed.
Naturally, the fact that they were headed for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl had absolutely nothing to do with this decision.
3) Teams we can start the “Death Watch” on right now
San Diego Chargers
It’s not just the five straight losses, its they way they’ve lost them. They have no offensive line. They are without Malcolm Floyd and Shawn Phillips. They rely entire too much on Philip Rivers since they have a marginal running game, and there is the matter of the Human Handicap, otherwise known as Norv Turner. Turner could screw up a grilled cheese sandwich, and the Chargers will never win as long as he is on their sideline.
Washington Redskins
Like the Chargers, it’s not just the six straight losses, it’s the way they’ve lost them. Nobody defines “inconsistent quarterback” play like the Redskins; they got the “good” Rex Grossman against the Cowboys and still lost. In fact, despite the sideline weakness present in Mike “I never won shit without a guy named Elway” Shanahan, you really can’t fault the offense. While the Redskins defensive line has proven to be improved and often more physical than the offensive lines they’ve faced, the back seven gives up far too much on pass plays.
New York Jets
It’s official…I’m off the Mark Sanchez band-wagon. This guy sucks swamp-water. This guy saves his job once every six games or so. This guy has to go.
Look at the pattern. When the Jets were on a three-game skid last month, Sanchez led them to a win over then-winless Miami. This is just like 2009, when the Jets came back from a 4-6 record to make the playoffs at 9-7.
Now, Jets fans are stuck hoping history repeats itself again. This time, the Jets are 5-5 after dropping their and a suddenly-remembers-they-are-supposed-t0-be-lousy Buffalo team is coming to town. But none of that accounts for the dirty Sanchez secret.
Sanchez has chucked pick-sixes in each of the last two games. He’s tossed three total this season. He also has lost two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns and had an interception returned to the 1 by Dallas on opening night, and the Cowboys scored a touchdown two plays later. That’s 42 points the Jets have allowed, almost all because of Sanchez.
To be fair, the Jets offensive line isn’t helping matters. They’ve reverted to their early-season ineptitude. They allowed four sacks on opening night 11 in the first four games. Sanchez has been dropped eight times in the last two games.
4) Teams I Want To Like, But…
Chicago Bears
The Bears are the photo negative of the Chargers. The Bears have won five straight. They don’t win pretty and they depend on the running game. But when do they get Jay Cutler back?
The Bears’ Achilles’ heel on defense is the deep pass. If you can set it up, you can you can hurt the Bears on deep passes, something that will be a test for them when they play Oakland this week. But after that, the Bears get Kansas City, Denver and Seattle. In fact, after Oakland, they won’t face a team with a passing game to speak of until week 16 with the Packers.
Oakland Raiders
Carson Palmer and Michael Bush might just be what the Raiders needed. Palmer has yet to be dominant, but he is efficient, doesn’t make mistakes, and gives the Raiders the ability to move the ball against anybody. Michael Bush can be flat out dominant with his bruising running style. Plus, all they have to do to make the playoffs is win the AFC West. But can they do it? They’ve already lost to the Broncos once.
5) …And in what promises to be an on-going saga…
That whole bit about the Raiders brings us to the ever-present Tim Tebow story. His heroics against the Jets only serve as another chapter in what I fear may be a story that won’t be ending for a while. You can say all you wan’t about how he is a “terrible” quarterback…don’t look now, but this guy is winning games, and with every win, he gets more fans. If Tebow isn’t careful, he’s going to be one of the biggest stars in the league because his appeal transcends football. Watch it it happen if the Broncos make the play-offs.
Don’t scoff at that thought. Like I said about the Raiders, all that is required to do it is to win the AFC West, and the Tebow-led Broncos have already bested the Raiders. The Broncos would be in the “Teams I want to like, but…” category, but my “but” on the Broncos is more of a belief question. Do I believe that Tebow’s winning ways are due to him, or due to the fact nobody in the NFL has seen an option offense in 40 years?
About J-Dub
6 comments on “What We Learned From This Weekend in Football 11/19/2011”
Drop Your Comments Here
The Man Behind Dubsism
Dubsism on Pinterest
Click On JoePa-Kenobi To Feel The Power Of The Jedi Photoshop Trick. Besides, you can get the best sports-related recipes ever. This is the sports-related content you are looking for.
Blog Directories
Dubsism 
Agree with SEC and to take it a step further if LSU is almost unbeatable does it make who they play? Arkansas will have a say Friday. I agree what happened with all the U stuff/scandals? I think there (NCAA) gathering all there ducks and going to drop a bomb on Miami when the have all the garage collected! I like renown and I’m rooting for him, I would love to see him out do the Raiders and Chargers.
LikeLike
I love the fact that, in these pass-happy days of the NFL, so many people are just outright offended that Tebow can win a football game by only completing two passes.
What did we ever do before cell phones or the 1950s?
LikeLike
But you forgot that the Browns are red hot!
LikeLike
Norv Turner would completely forget to turn the grill on at first…then forget to put the cheese in the sandwich…then forget to take the bread off the grill and burn the entire house down. He would have enough sense to exit the house…to live for another season…but his only regret would be forgetting the cheese.
LikeLike
The Raiders biggest weakness is themselves as in penalties. I love what I’ve seen from Palmer and Bettis 2.0 (Bush). Couldn’t be happier about the Chargers downfall. It all started when they hired Norv, which firing Norv as the Raiders coach was one of the few sane things AD did in the mid 2000’s.
Is the Broncos defense the most overlooked part of that team that nobody talks about? Yeah I get it, Tebow has come through when it mattered on offense at the end of games, but if it wasn’t for that defense, he wouldn’t have had the chance to come back!
LikeLike
Yeah I’d say the Redskins ended their season a while ago… They have a shitty front office and they don’t play as a team. They won’t be getting anywhere until both attitudes change..
LikeLike